Oakland County Leaves 23,597 Households Offline Despite 99.6% Broadband Coverage
Updated
Updated · Oakland Press · Sep 6
Oakland County Leaves 23,597 Households Offline Despite 99.6% Broadband Coverage
2 articles · Updated · Oakland Press · Sep 6
Summary
23,597 Oakland County households had no internet subscription in 2024 and 13,520 had no computer, even though FCC data show 99.6% fixed-broadband coverage and 100% mobile coverage.
Affordability is the main reason households stay disconnected, Michigan connectivity officials said, with digital literacy, device access and technical support gaps also limiting adoption where infrastructure already exists.
2020 Michigan State research linked weak home connectivity to worse student outcomes: teens without home internet spent 30 extra minutes on homework, reported GPAs of 2.81 versus 3.18 for peers with fast internet, and were less likely to plan for college.
Across Michigan, 906,728 households — 22.2% of the state — lack a home internet connection, while the state broadband office estimates about 31% of households still do not have affordable, reliable high-speed service that meets their needs.
The lapse of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which had supported more than 278,000 Michigan households with at least $30 a month, underscored how the digital divide has shifted from network buildout to whether families can pay to use it.